Cellular carton



y 2, 1933- R. E. RUTLEDGE 1,906,337

CELLULAR CARTON Filed Feb. 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l I /7 {7 /6 V7 /3 Z INVENTOR 4 fijj- 15 ATTORNEYS PAT ROBERT E. R'UTLEDGE, O]? i O, B IICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO' SUTLAND PER COMPANY, OF KAAZOO, MICHIGAN GELLUL CARTON Application filed February 1, 1932. Serial No. 590,079.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved cellular carton for acking fragile articles such as eggs or the like.

Second, to provide a cellular carton for eggs and the like which very effectively cushions and protects the eggs and at the same time is economical in its parts and easily assembled and set up for use.

Third, to provide a carton having these advantages which may be knocked down for storage or shipment and readily set up by the user without the aid of machinery or other mechanism.

' Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,'in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cellular carton embodying my invention with the cover closed.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation, eggs being indicated therein by dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the main blank.

- Fig. 4 is an end view of the carton in collapsed position without the longitudinal partition.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the carton with the cover open and the longitudinal partition omitted.

, Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the carton partially set up.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary topplan view of the carton fully set up and ready to receive the eggs.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section showing the engagement of the locking flap of the cover with the triangular connections between the transverse partitions and the front wall of the carton.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the carton blank which is divided by transverse scored lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 gage the triangular connections 20 between the transverse partitions 21 and-the front wall 14. The transverse partition forming portion 15 is cut so as to provide the spaced transverse partitions 21 which are provided with upper vertical slots 23 which are offset between adjacent partitions.

One end partition is provided with a cent trally locatedvertical slot 24 for coacting with the separately formed longitudinal partition 25. The latter is formed, as illustrated by Fig. 8, to have locking tongues or lugs 26 which coact with the spaced longitudinal slots 27 in the false bottom 17. The end recesses or slots 28 in the false bottom are made relatively Wide to facilitate the engagement of the locking key 29 of the longitudinal partiiion vgith the false bottom 17, as illustrated by In the embodiment illustrated the hook 29 is provided with an upwardly extending lug which is received by the slot 30 to prevent longitudinal movement of the partition relative to the false bottom. The lugs 26 and 29 also constitute supporting separators which hold the false bottom 17 and the main bottom 13' in fixed spaced relation to each other.

The false bottom 17 is provided with crossslits 31 in the center of the cell or areas bounded by the longitudinal partition 25 and the transverse partitions 21 whereby to provide spring supports or cushions for the eggs as 32. The salient projections 33 provided on the longitudinal partition 25 above the transverse partitions 21 serve to space the center of the cover 11 away from the tops of the eggs 32, as illustrated by Fig. 2.

The carton is set up as illustrated by Fig. 5, by folding the blank 1 along the scored lines and the flap 18 is glued to the front side wall 11 at 34 with the false bottom 17 in wall 12 at 35. The transverse partitions 21 are then folded downwardly along the scored lines 36 which connect them to the triangular pieces 20 and 38 which extend inwardly from the front and rear walls, respectively. Finally, the longitudinal partition 25 is placed so as to register with the vertical slots 23 in the tops of the transverse partitions and the locking tongues 26 through the slots 27 in the false bottom. The vertical recesses 39 in the longitudinal partition 25 receive the lower ends ofthe partitions 21 and support them in vertical position.

With the parts in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the transverse partitions may be simultaneously swung to erected position by means of the longitudinal partition which is swung down upon the same to swing them to erected position and then manipulated to engage the lugs as shown in Fig. 8, in which position the parts are locked in erected position. The false bottom is supported both at its longitudinal edges and also centrally.

After the carton has been filled the cover 11 is closed and the locking flap 1O manipulated so as to engage the hooks 19 with the triangular pieces 20, as illustrated by Fig. 10. With the cover locked in closed position the filled carton is ready for transportation.

The cartons are knocked down as illustrated by Fig. 4 when not in use and for convenient storage and shipment.

With my improved carton, eggs and similar fragile articles may be shipped without fear of damage because of the fact that the false bottom 17 supports the eggs on a live cushion which is separated from contact with the supporting surface or an adjacent carton when stacked for shipment or the like. It will befurther appreciated that I have provided an inexpensive and compact carton which is strong and durable and highly effective for the purpose intended.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiments of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

aving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cellular carton comprising a bottom, side walls, and transverse partitions connecting said side walls and having slots in their upper edges, a false bottom underlying said partitions and spaced from the bottom of the carton, said false bottom having a longitudinal series of slots therein disposed between the partitions, and alongitudinal partition engaged with the'slots in the upper edges of said transverse partitions and having a series of recesses in its lower edge receiving said transverse partitions, the portions of the longitudinal partition between its said recesses having curved tongues disposed through the slots in the false bottom and projecting below the false bottom to constitute supports therefor, said longitudinal partition having an inwardly facing lug at one end engaged with a slot in the adjacent end partition and a longitudinally projecting key at its other end disposed below the false bottom and having an upwardly projecting lug engaged in one of the slots in said false bottom whereby the longitudinal partition is retained and said transverse partitions supported in erected position providing a plurality of cells, said false bottom having groups of radially disposed slits therein positioned centrally relative to the cells. 2

2. A cellular carton comprising a bottom, side Walls, and transverse partitions connecting said side walls and having slots in their upper edges, a false bottom underlying said partitions and spaced from the bottom of the carton, said false bottom having a longitudinal series of slots therein disposed between the partitions, and a longitudinal partition engaged with the slotsin the upper edges of said transverse partitions and having a series of recesses in its lower edge receiving said transverse partitions, the portion of the longitudinal partition between its said recesses having curved tongues disposed through the slots in the false bottom and projecting below the false bottom to constitute supports therefor, said longitudinal partition having an inwardly facing lug at one end engaged with a slot in the adjacent end partition and a longitudinally projecting key at its other end disposed below the false bottom and having an upwardly projecting lug engaged in one of the slots in said false bottom whereby the longitudinal partition is retained and said transverse partitions supported in erected position providing a plurality of cells.

3. A cellular carton comprising a bottom, side walls, and transverse partitions, a false bottom underlying said partitions and spaced from the bottom of the carton, said false bottom having an alined series of slots therein disposed between the partitions, and a longitudinal partition having a series of recesses in its lower edge receiving said transverse partitions, the portions of the longitudinal partition between its said recesses having tongues disposed through the slots in the false bottom andprojecting below the false bottom to constitute supports therefor, said longitudinal partition having an inwardly facing ing at one end engaged with the adjacent end partition and a key at its other end disposed below the false bottom and having a lug engaged in one of the slots in said false bottom whereby the longitudinal partition is retained and said transverse partitions supported in erected position providing a plurality of cells, said false bottom having groups of radially disposed slits therein positioned centrally relative to the cells.

4. A. cellular carton comprising a bottom,

side walls, and transverse partitions, a false bottom underlying-said partitions and spaced from the bottom of the carton, said false bottom having an alined series of slots therein disposed between the partitions, and a longitudinal partitions having a series of re- 19 cesses, in its lower edge receiving said transverse partitions, the portions ofthe lon 'tudinal partition between its said recesses aving tongues disposed through the slots in the false bottom and projecting below the false bottom to constitute supports therefor, said longitudinal partition having an inwardl facing lug at one end engagedwith the a jacent end partition and a key at-its other end disposed below the false bottom and hav- 20 ing a lug engaged in one of the slots in said false bottom whereby the longitudinal partition is retained and said transverse partitions supported in erected position providing a plurality of cells.

5. A cellular carton comprising a body blank of suitable material cut and scored to provide a main bottom, a false bottom, front and rear side walls, and transverse partitions, a cover extending from the upper edge of the rear side wall and provided with a closure flap, the false bottom being at the end. of the blank opposite the cover and being provided with supporting flaps at its edges, said supporting aps being attached to the front and rear side walls to support the false bottom in spaced relation to the main bottom, the transverse partitions being between and connected to the front wall'and the false bottom flap attached to the rear wall so that the partitions may be swung to an upri ht position on their attaching portions, an a longitudinal partition notched on its under edge to receive said transverse partitions and having lugs disposed through said false bottfaom and constituting central supports there- 6. A cellular carton comprising a body blank of suitable material cut and scored to provide a mam bottom, a false bottom, front and rear side walls, and transverse partitions, and a cover extending from the upper edge of the rear side wall and provided with a closure flap, the false bottombeing at the end of the blank opposite the cover and being provided with sup orting flaps at its edges, said supporting aps being attached to the front and rear side walls to support the false bottom in spaced relation to the main bottom, the transverse partitions being hetween and connected to the front wall and the false bottom fla attached to the rear wall so that the partltions may be swung to an upright position on their attaching portions.

65 7. A cellular carton. comprising a. bottom,

side walls, and transverse partitions connecting said side walls and.- having slots in their upper edges, a bottom underlying said partitions, said bottom having a longitudlnal se ries of slots therein disposed between the partitions, and a longitudinal partition engaged with the slots in the upper edges of saidtransverse partitions and havin aseries of recesses in its lower edge receiving said -t ra ns verse partitions, the portion of the longitudinal partition between its said recesses having tongues disposed through the slots 1n the bottom and projecting below the bottom, said longitudinal partition having an inwardly facmg lug at one end engaged with a slot 1n the adjacent end partition and a longitudmally projecting key at its other end disposed below the bottom and having an upwardly projecting lug engaged in one of the slots in said bottom whereby the longitudinal partition is retained and said transverse partitions supported in erected position providing a plurality of cells.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

' ROBERT E. RUTLEDGE. 

